Identifying and Modeling Evaporite Facies Using Well Logs
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Identifying and Modeling Evaporite Facies using Well Logs: Characterising the Devonian Elk Point Group salt giant by Elaine Loretta Lord A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences University of Alberta © Elaine Loretta Lord, 2020 Abstract Over the last century, study of evaporite deposits has evolved from modeling chemical successions and studying outcrops of insoluble material, to sedimentologic study of drill core paired with geochemical analysis. In this thesis, I add to published scientific literature on the Prairie Evaporite Formation, a succession of Middle-Devonian evaporate deposits in the Central Alberta Basin of Alberta, Canada. I combine new well log interpretation with sedimentologic studies in the literature to define six new evaporite facies in the Prairie Evaporite Formation, and present a new facies identification scheme that correlates wireline log signatures to core log data. Wireline log data from 994 wells and logs of seven cores in the Central Alberta Basin are compiled to assess stratigraphic relationships, lithological facies, textural features, and insoluble marker beds within the Prairie Evaporite Formation. This analysis identifies seven unique facies sequences within each cycle of the Prairie Evaporite in the Central Alberta Basin. I have produced 3D-facies models for each cycle in order to map facies distribution across the Central Alberta Basin and assess the change in depositional environments through time and across the basin. I infer water cyclicity and climate in the basin during the middle Devonian based on these depositional environments: modeled facies reflect a nearshore environment in the west and southwest Central Alberta Basin and an increasingly shallow and concentrated epeiric sea basinward. I speculate that application of this facies correlation scheme to other evaporite deposits of the world is possible, but requires calibration by correlation of wireline log data to core log data. ii Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge my supervisor, Dr. Nicholas Harris, for being the inspiration of this project and the CAES program for giving me the opportunity to study at the University of Alberta. Thank you to Piotr Kukiolka, Chris Schneider, and Tim Lowenstein for exposing me to the fascinating and unique world of evaporites as well as for laying the groundwork of my knowledge. I would also like to thank Dr. Murray Gingras and Dr. Daniel Alessi for their help with sample analysis. Thank you to Mark and Walt for their assistance in any sample processing procedures, their time and dedication to creative problem solving is the reason that I was able to safely produce samples for analysis. Thank you to Konstantin Von Gunten and Guang Cheng for providing his time to produce ICP-MS data, and Katie Hogberg for her time spent towards XRD analysis. This project also could not have happened without the generous sample lending program from the AER-CRC and all of those who worked on these formations before me. I acknowledge the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) through grant # CRDPJ 477323 – 14 and Alberta Innovates through grant #20150003336. I also acknowledge the financial support of Rocky Mountain Power (now Rocky Mountain Power Energy Storage) and the encouragement and support of Jan van Egteren and Robert Stewart. I thank Vermillion Energy, Newalta Corporation, and Esso for allowing me to sample cores under their care. I thank Maurice Dusseault and Sean McKenna of the University of Waterloo for engaging me in the broader topic of compressed air energy storage in salt formations. I could not have done this project without the countless friends and labmates I have made during this project and may we hold each other up in the future as we have during this trial. In iii particular, I would like to thank Matthew, Noga, Alix, Nicole, Mandy, Benjamin Gruber, Hélène, Soumi, and Anna for all of their hours talking about halite with me, and for their support when I needed it the most. I am forever blessed by the mentors around me including Dr. Reed Scherer, Richard Lassin, Terry Briggs, and the E.S.C.O.N.I. organization for instilling a love of geology in me at a young age, for their support during my schooling, and most importantly for teaching me to ask better questions. Lastly, I would like to thank my parents who have always loved their geologist, even my collection of rocks filled precious space in the garage. Mom and Dad, thank you for all your support and unwavering belief in my potential. iv Table of Contents 1 Introduction .........................................................................................................................1 2 Geologic Background .......................................................................................................4 3 Data set and Methods .......................................................................................................13 3.1 Core Logging and Well Logs .................................................................................................11 3.2 Core description .....................................................................................................................12 3.3 Well Log Interpretation ..........................................................................................................19 3.4 Core to Log Correlation .........................................................................................................19 3.5 Core Sampling and Sample Preparation ................................................................................19 3.6 XRD Analysis ........................................................................................................................20 4 Results ...................................................................................................................................20 4.1 Facies .....................................................................................................................................20 v 4.1.1 Sylvinite ........................................................................................................................24 4.1.2 Bedded Halite ..............................................................................................................24 4.1.3 Halite with Chaotic Mud .............................................................................................25 4.1.4 Coarse Clear Halite .....................................................................................................25 4.1.5 Anhydritic Mudstone ....................................................................................................26 4.1.6 Marlstone .....................................................................................................................26 4.2 Log Identification of Facies ...................................................................................................27 4.3 Spatial Distribution ................................................................................................................29 4.4 Facies Cycles .........................................................................................................................29 4.4.1 Cycle Seven ..................................................................................................................34 4.4.2 Cycle Six ......................................................................................................................35 4.4.3 Cycle Five ....................................................................................................................35 4.4.4 Cycle Four ...................................................................................................................35 4.4.5 Cycle Three ..................................................................................................................36 4.4.6 Cycle Two ....................................................................................................................36 4.4.7 Cycle One .....................................................................................................................36 vi 5 Discussion .............................................................................................................................38 5.1 Applicability of well log data for basin facies correlation .....................................................39 5.2 Depositional model of Prairie Evaporite Formation ..............................................................44 5.2.1 Saltern ..........................................................................................................................49 5.2.2 Saline Pan ....................................................................................................................50 5.2.3 Saline Mudflat ..............................................................................................................53 5.3 Water Input and cyclicity in the Basin ...................................................................................55 Chapter 6: Summary and Conclusion ...........................................................................58 References ................................................................................................................................60 Appendix A: Well Data .......................................................................................................65